Bloomsbury Publishing has reported a “robust” performance for the financial year ended 28th February 2025, with trading “ahead of consensus expectations” after a “strong” second half.
Exact figures for the year were not shared, but the publisher noted in its report that “the board considers consensus market expectation for the year ending 28th February 2025 prior to this announcement to be revenue of £333.4m and profit before taxation and highlighted items of £39.6m”.
Success within the consumer division was “broadly” based across the publisher’s portfolio, Bloomsbury said, and the acquisition of Rowman & Littlefield in May 2024, “where integration is progressing very well”, drove growth in the non-consumer division.
The report continued that Bloomsbury Digital Resources grew for the full year despite the budgetary pressures in the publisher’s core academic markets.
Overall, Bloomsbury said its strong performance and associated cash generation had enabled the company to pay down $7.5m of the $37m debt associated with the acquisition of Rowman & Littlefield “ahead of schedule”.
Bloomsbury noted: “The company’s robust performance is powerfully driven by determined execution of the Bloomsbury 2030 vision, focused on our growth, portfolio and people. Our authors, customers, consistent performance and the scale and resilience of our business continue to underpin the confidence we have in the future.”
The publisher has also announced the appointment of Dame Heather Rabbatts, the senior independent director at Associated British Foods plc and M&C Saatchi Group plc, to its board as a non-executive director, with effect from 14th April 2025. She will become a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
